How to use a Recurve Bow Stringer

Whether you use your recurve on a regular basis or only from time to time, a bow stringer is a very important piece of equipment for you to own. It allows you to safely restring or de-string your bow, without the risk of injury to yourself or damage to your bow.

How to Use a Bow Stringer

A bow stringer is a simple and effective way to restring your bow. It greatly reduces the chance of a nasty injury, particularly to your face, which can occur while using other methods of restringing a bow. A bow stringer also helps to prevent damage to your bow and compromising the straightness of the limbs which can easily occur if you don’t use one.

To effectively use a bow stringer, the following steps should be taken:

• Place the cup part over one end of your bow. Keep in mind that if there are two pockets, you should always put the smaller on the upper limb tip.
• Place the loop over the other end of your bow
• Ensure the strap is resting on the ground
• Once the bow string is placed on the bow’s limb tips, put one or both of your feet on the center of the strap
• Pull the bow upwards until you are able to move the string into the correct position. As you slide the string, the bow stringer will be supported by the bow’s draw weight.
• Remove the bow stringer from your bow
• Reverse this process to unstring your bow

How to String a Bow Without a Bow Stringer

There are a number of more traditional ways to restring a bow which do not involve the use of a bow stringer. These include the step through method and the push pull method.

Step Through Method

To restring your bow using the step through method, the following steps should be taken:

• Have one end of your string tied a little way down from the top of your bow
• Step your left foot through the gap between you bow and the string
• The bow should be underneath your leg and the string above it
• Brace the lower limb of the bow against your right foot, and the handle against your rear
• Pull the top limb of the bow towards you until you can slide the loose string loop into position
• Reverse this process to unstring your bow

Push Pull Method

To restring your bow using the push pull method, the following steps should be taken:

• Place the end of the lower limb of your bow under your right foot
• Hold the handle of the bow with your right hand
• Pull the bow across your body
• Use your left hand to pull back on the top limb
• Slide the string upwards and into place with your left hand
• Reverse this process to unstring your bow

The following YouTube video shows a demonstration of the step through method and the push pull method, followed by an example of how to use a bow stringer to complete the process:

What Makes a Good Bow Stringer?

A good bow stringer must be sturdy and durable. The stitching must be high standard; this ensures that the product is safe to use, is not likely to break, and will last for a long time with repeated use.

The material components used should include a tough nylon fabric for the strap, and a non slip rubber area in the cup to prevent the re-stringer from moving or coming off the bow while in use. A bow stringer may also feature a rubber grip or block at the center of the strap, to help prevent movement and add security during use.

The longer a bow stringer is, the more versatile it will be for use on different sized models of bow. This is an important factor to consider if you will be restringing a variety of bow sizes, or if you own a larger model of bow.

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